Abstract: This study carried out to determine the effect of plant
densities on some agronomic characteristics of four safflower cultivars in spring planting. The experiment was conducted at Yazd,
Iran- using a factorial in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Cultivars were including Arak, IL, Asteria and Local and plant densities were 10, 13.3, 20 and 40 plant/m2. Number
of seeds/head, number of heads/plant, HI, 1000-seed weight and seed yield significantly decreased as planting density increased. With increasing planting density, LAI, plant height, first branch height and
biological yield increased. The highest seed yield was obtained in 13.3 plant/m2 (2167 kg/ha). There were significant differences
between cultivars. Local cv. had higher seed yield than the other cultivars mainly due to higher heads/plant and seeds/head.
Abstract: The heterotrophic seedling growth can be defined as a
product of two components: (1) the weight of mobilized seed reserve,
and (2) conversion efficiency of utilized seed reserve to seedling
tissue. The first component can be further divided into (1) initial seed
weight, and (2) the fraction of seed reserve, which is mobilized. The
objective of this study was the identification of the sensitive seedling
growth component(s) in response to drought and salinity stresses.
Two experiments were separately conducted using various salinity
levels (osmotic pressure) of 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1, 1.25 and 1.5 MPa
created using NaCl as first experiment and by polyethylene glycol
(drought stress) of 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1, 1.2 and 1.4 MPa in second
experiment. Seeds of five crops species (Hordeum vulgare, Brassica
napus, Zea mays, Medicago sativa and Medicago scutellata) were
used in each experiment. In both experiments, seedling growth,
fraction of seed reserve utilization and weight of mobilized seed
reserve decreased with increasing drought and salt intensity.
However, drought and salinity stresses had no effect on the
conversion efficiency. It was concluded that the sensitive component
of seedling growth is the weight of mobilized seed reserve.
Abstract: Composting is the process in which municipal solid
waste (MSW) and other organic waste materials such as biosolids
and manures are decomposed through the action of bacteria and other
microorganisms into a stable granular material which, applied to
land, as soil conditioner. Microorganisms, especially those that are
able to degrade polymeric organic material have a key role in speed
up this process. The aim of this study has been established to
isolation of microorganisms with high ability to production
extracellular enzymes for degradation of natural polymers that are
exists in MSW for decreasing time of degradation phase. Our
experimental study for isolation designed in two phases: in first
phase we isolated degrading microorganism with selected media that
consist a special natural polymer such as cellulose, starch, lipids and
etc as sole source of carbon. In second phase we selected
microorganism that had high degrading enzyme production with
enzymatic assay for seed production. However, our findings in pilot
scale have indicated that usage of this microbial consortium had high
efficiency for decreasing degradation phase.
Abstract: Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni (natural sweetener) belongs
to Asteraceae family and can be used as substitute of artificial
sweeteners for diabetic patients. Conventionally, it is cultivated by
seeds or stem cutting, but seed viability rate is poor. A protocol for
callus induction and multiplication was developed to produce large
no. of calli in short period. Surface sterilized nodal, leaf and root
explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with
different concentrations of plant hormone like, IBA, kinetin, NAA,
2,4-D, and NAA in combination with 2,4-D. 100% callusing was
observed from leaf explants cultured on combination of NAA and
2,4-D after three weeks while with 2,4-D, only 10% callusing was
observed. Calli obtained from leaf and root explants were shiny green
while with nodal explants it was hard and brown. The present
findings deal with induction of callusing in Stevia to achieve the
rapid callus multiplication for study of steviol glycosides in callus
culture.
Abstract: This study proposes novel hybrid social network analysis and collaborative filtering approach to enhance the performance of recommender systems. The proposed model selects subgroups of users in Internet community through social network analysis (SNA), and then performs clustering analysis using the information about subgroups. Finally, it makes recommendations using cluster-indexing CF based on the clustering results. This study tries to use the cores in subgroups as an initial seed for a conventional clustering algorithm. This model chooses five cores which have the highest value of degree centrality from SNA, and then performs clustering analysis by using the cores as initial centroids (cluster centers). Then, the model amplifies the impact of friends in social network in the process of cluster-indexing CF.
Abstract: Nigella sativa L. is an aromatic plant belonging to the
family Ranunculaceae. It has been used traditionally, especially in the
middle East and India, for the treatment of asthma, cough, bronchitis,
headache, rheumatism, fever, influenza and eczema. Several
biological activities have been reported in Nigella sativa seeds,
including antioxidant. In this context we tried to estimate the
antioxidant activity of various extracts prepared from Nigella sativa
seeds, methanolic extract (ME), chloroformic extract (CE), hexanic
extract (HE : fixed oil), ethyl acetate extract (EAE) water extract
(WE). The Folin-Ciocalteu assay showed that CE and EAE contained
high level of phenolic compounds 81.31 and 72.43μg GAE/mg of
extract respectively. Similarly, the CE and EAE exhibited the highest
DPPH radical scavenging activity, with IC50 values of 106.56μg/ml
and 121.62μg/ml respectively. In addition, CE and HE showed the
most scavenging activity against superoxide radical generated in the
PMS-NADH-NBT system with respective IC50 values of 361.86
μg/ml and 371.80 μg/ml, which is comparable to the activity of the
standard antioxidant BHT (344.59 μg/ml). Ferrous ion chelating
capacity assay showed that WE, EAE and ME are the most active
with 40.57, 39.70 and 22.02 mg EDTA-E/g of extract. The inhibition
of linoleic acid/ß-carotene coupled oxidation was estimated by ßcarotene
bleaching assay, this showed a highest relative antioxidant
activity with CE and EAE (69.82% of inhibition). The antioxidant
activities of the methanolic extract and the fixed oil are confirmed by
an in vivo assay in mice, the daily oral administration of methanolic
extract (500 and 800 mg/kg/day) and fixed oil (2 and 4 ml/kg/day)
during 21 days, resulted in a significant enhancement of the blood
total antioxidant capacity (measured by KRL test) and the plasmatic
antioxidant capacity towards DPPH radical.
Abstract: The effects of upflow liquid velocity (ULV) on
performance of expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) system were
investigated. The EGSB reactor, made from galvanized steel pipe
0.10 m diameter and 5 m height, had been used to treat piggery
wastewater, after passing through acidification tank. It consisted of
39.3 l working volume in reaction zone and 122 l working volume in
sedimentation zone, at the upper part. The reactor was seeded with
anaerobically digested sludge and operated at the ULVs of 4, 8, 12
and 16 m/h, consecutively, corresponding to organic loading rates of
9.6 – 13.0 kg COD/ (m3.d). The average COD concentrations in the
influent were 9,601 – 13,050 mg/l. The COD removal was not
significantly different, i.e. 93.0% - 94.0%, except at ULV 12 m/h where
SS in the influent was exceptionally high so that VSS washout had
occurred, leading to low COD removal. The FCOD and VFA
concentrations in the effluent of all experiments were not much
different, indicating the same range of treatment performance. The
biogas production decreased at higher ULV and ULV of 4 m/h is
suggested as design criterion for EGSB system.
Abstract: Larval rearing and seed production of most of tetra fishes (Family: Characidae) is critical due to their small size larvae and limited numbers of spawning attempts. During the present study the effect of different live foods on growth and survival of neon tetra, Paracheirodon innesi larvae (length 3.1 ± 0.012mm, weight 0.048 ± 0.00015mg) and early fry (length = 6.44 ± 0.025mm, weight = 0.64 ± 0.003mg and 13 days old) was determined in two experiments. Experiment I was conducted for rearing the larvae by using mixed green water and Infusoria whereas, in Experiment II, early fry were fed with mixed zooplankton, decapsulated Artemia cyst and Artemia nauplii. The larvae fed on mixed green water showed significant (p
Abstract: In the present study, the effects of ultrasound as
emerging technology were investigated on germination stimulation,
amount of alpha-amylase activity on dry barley seeds before steeping
stage of malting process. All experiments were carried out at 20 KHz
on the ultrasonic generator in 3 different ultrasonic intensities (20, 60
and 100% setting from total power of device) and time (5, 10 and 15
min) at constant temperature (30C). For determining the effects of
these parameters on enzyme the Fuwa method assay based on the
decreased staining value of blue starch–iodine complexes employed
for measurement an activity. The results of these assays were
analyzed by Qualitek4 software using the Taguchi statistical method
to evaluate the factor-s effects on enzyme activity. It has been found
that when malting barley is irradiated with an ultrasonic power, a
stimulating effect occurs as to the enzyme activity.
Abstract: In this study, The physico-chemical and nutritional
properties of `Musmula` Medlar (Mespilus germanica L.) fruit and
seed grown in Northeast Anatolia was investigated. In the fruit,
length, width, thickness, weight, total soluble solids, colour (1),
colour (2) [L, a, b values], protein, crude ash, crude fiber, crude oil,
texture and pH were determinated as 4.34 cm, 4.22 cm, 3.67 cm,
38.36 g, 23.97 %, S60O60Y41,, [53.85, 17.15, 33.75], 1.06 %, 0.79 %,
4.24 %, 0.005 %, 1.21 kg/cm2 and 4.26 respectively. Also, pulp ratio,
seed ratio and pulp/seed ratio were found to be 92.88 %, 7.11 % and
14.07 %, respectively. In addition, the mineral composition of medlar
fruit in Northeast Anatolia was studied. In the fruit, 23 minerals were
analyzed and 19 minerals were present at detectable levels. The
medlar fruit was richest in potassium (6962 ppm), calcium (1186.378
ppm), magnesium (1070.08 ppm) and phosphor (763.425 ppm).
Abstract: In order to investigate water deficit stress on 24 of
soybean (Glycine Max. L) cultivars and lines in temperate climate, an
experiment was conducted in Iran Seed and Plant Improvement
Institute. Stress levels were irrigation after evaporation of 50, 100,
150 mm water from pan, class A. Randomized Completely Block
Design was arranged for each stress levels. Some traits such as, node
number, plant height, pod number per area, grain number per pod,
grain number per area, 1000 grains weight, grain yield and harvest
index were measured. Results showed that water deficit stress had
significant effect on node number, plant height, pod number per area,
grain number per pod, grain number per area, 1000 grains weight and
harvest index. Also all of agronomic traits except harvest index
influenced significantly by cultivars and lines. The least and most
grain yield was belonged to Ronak X Williams and M41 x Clark
respectively.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the tissue
composition and carcass muscularity of 32 legs of Ile de France
lambs fed with diets containing sunflower seeds and vitamin E, with
mean body weight of 15 kg, lodged in individual pens at 15 kg and
slaughtered at 32 kg of body weight. The treatments influenced
(P0,05) by the treatments. The
interaction of the sunflower and vitamin E was positive for bone total
weights and intermuscular fat.
Abstract: Group-III nitride material as particularly AlxGa1-xN is
one of promising optoelectronic materials to require for shortwavelength
devices. To achieve the high-quality AlxGa1-xN films for
a high performance of such devices, AlN-nucleation layers are the
important factor. To improve the AlN-nucleation layers with a
variation of Ga-addition, XRD measurements were conducted to
analyze the crystalline quality of the subsequent Al0.1Ga0.9N with the
minimum ω-FWHMs of (0002) and (10-10) reflections of 425 arcsec
and 750 arcsec, respectively. SEM and AFM measurements were
performed to observe the surface morphology and TEM
measurements to identify the microstructures and orientations.
Results showed that the optimized Ga-atoms in the Al(Ga)Nnucleation
layers improved the surface diffusion to form moreuniform
crystallites in structure and size, better alignment of each
crystallite, and better homogeneity of island distribution. This, hence,
improves the orientation of epilayers on the Si-surface and finally
improves the crystalline quality and reduces the residual strain of
subsequent Al0.1Ga0.9N layers.
Abstract: One problem of synthetic sunflower cultivation is an
erratic germination of the seeds. To improve the germination, presowing
seed treatment with an ultrasound was tested. All treatments
were carried out at 40 kHz frequency with the intensities of 40, 60,
80 and 100% of the ultrasonic generator total power (250 W) for the
durations of 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes. Data on seed germination
percentage, seed vigor index (SVI), root and shoot lengths of
seedlings were collected. The results showed that germination, SVI,
root and shoot lengths of ultrasonic treated seedlings were different
from the control, depending on intensity of the ultrasound. The
effects of ultrasonic treatment were significant on germination,
resulting in a maximum increase of 43% at 40 and 60% intensities
compared to that of the control seeds. In addition, seedlings of these 2
treatments had higher SVI and longer root and shoot lengths than that
of the control seedlings. All treatment durations resulted in higher
germination and SVI, longer root and higher shoot lenghts of
seedlings than the control. Among the duration treatments, only SVI
and seedling root length were significantly different.
Abstract: The common bean is the most important grain legume for direct human consumption in the world and BCMV is one of the world's most serious bean diseases that can reduce yield and quality of harvested product. To determine the best tolerance index to BCMV and recognize tolerant genotypes, 2 experiments were conducted in field conditions. Twenty five common bean genotypes were sown in 2 separate RCB design with 3 replications under contamination and non-contamination conditions. On the basis of the results of indices correlations GMP, MP and HARM were determined as the most suitable tolerance indices. The results of principle components analysis indicated 2 first components totally explained 98.52% of variations among data. The first and second components were named potential yield and stress susceptible respectively. Based on the results of BCMV tolerance indices assessment and biplot analysis WA8563-4, WA8563-2 and Cardinal were the genotypes that exhibited potential seed yield under contamination and noncontamination conditions.
Abstract: Environmental factors affect agriculture production
productivity and efficiency resulted in changing of profit efficiency.
This paper attempts to estimate the impacts of environmental factors
to profitability of rice farmers in the Red River Delta of Vietnam. The
dataset was extracted from 349 rice farmers using personal
interviews. Both OLS and MLE trans-log profit functions were used
in this study. Five production inputs and four environmental factors
were included in these functions. The estimation of the stochastic
profit frontier with a two-stage approach was used to measure
profitability. The results showed that the profit efficiency was about
75% on the average and environmental factors change profit
efficiency significantly beside farm specific characteristics. Plant
disease, soil fertility, irrigation apply and water pollution were the
four environmental factors cause profit loss in rice production. The
result indicated that farmers should reduce household size, farm
plots, apply row seeding technique and improve environmental
factors to obtain high profit efficiency with special consideration is
given for irrigation water quality improvement.
Abstract: The production of a plant can be measured in terms of
seeds. The generation of seeds plays a critical role in our social and
daily life. The fruit production which generates seeds, depends on the
various parameters of the plant, such as shoot length, leaf number,
root length, root number, etc When the plant is growing, some leaves
may be lost and some new leaves may appear. It is very difficult to
use the number of leaves of the tree to calculate the growth of the
plant.. It is also cumbersome to measure the number of roots and
length of growth of root in several time instances continuously after
certain initial period of time, because roots grow deeper and deeper
under ground in course of time. On the contrary, the shoot length of
the tree grows in course of time which can be measured in different
time instances. So the growth of the plant can be measured using the
data of shoot length which are measured at different time instances
after plantation. The environmental parameters like temperature, rain
fall, humidity and pollution are also play some role in production of
yield. The soil, crop and distance management are taken care to
produce maximum amount of yields of plant. The data of the growth
of shoot length of some mustard plant at the initial stage (7,14,21 &
28 days after plantation) is available from the statistical survey by a
group of scientists under the supervision of Prof. Dilip De. In this
paper, initial shoot length of Ken( one type of mustard plant) has
been used as an initial data. The statistical models, the methods of
fuzzy logic and neural network have been tested on this mustard
plant and based on error analysis (calculation of average error) that
model with minimum error has been selected and can be used for the
assessment of shoot length at maturity. Finally, all these methods
have been tested with other type of mustard plants and the particular
soft computing model with the minimum error of all types has been
selected for calculating the predicted data of growth of shoot length.
The shoot length at the stage of maturity of all types of mustard
plants has been calculated using the statistical method on the
predicted data of shoot length.